Quote by Jean de la Bruyere
The great gift of conversation lies less in displaying it ourselves than in drawing it out of others. He who leaves your company pleased with himself and his own cleverness is perfectly well pleased with you.
Summary
This quote emphasizes the power of effective communication and engaging in meaningful conversations. It suggests that being a skillful conversationalist involves the ability to elicit thoughts and ideas from others, rather than dominating the conversation oneself. The measure of a successful conversationalist is when the person they are speaking with feels enlightened and pleased with their own contributions to the discussion. In essence, it highlights the importance of listening, prompting, and empowering others during conversations rather than solely focusing on one's personal display of wit or knowledge.